Centrifugal control



May 14, 1929- R. A. STEPS CENTRIFUGAL CONTROL:l

4 Isheets-sheet Filed May 25, 1927 l .llllllllillllllrlllflllllllhl. l I

May1'4,1929. R.A.STEPS 1,713,057

CENTRIFUGAL CONTROL Filed May 23, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 X5 l AV 65 37d 31m/newton May 14, 1929. R. A. STEPS CENTRIFUGAL CONTROL Filed May 25, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet n@ QN @maw May 14,. 1929.. R A, STEPS CENTRIFUGAL CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MNN/ F'iled May 23, 1927 lill lftllElitl' .ALEXANDER ElllhilPEt, till :MDS ANGELES, Ulllllilthllllllifi.

UEdlil'TRlllUGldtli CONTRUL Application tiled May 2d, 515W?.

ln operating centrifugal machines in the industries where they are used, several simple but important perations are usually performed manually, and are repeated for each cycle of the centrifugal. -ln important feature of these operations is that they should be performed one after the other with a correet interval of time intervening` between them. For instance, in a sugar factory, after the massecuite is charged into the centrifugal, and same is started spinning, the operator allows a certain period of time to lapse and he then turns on the automatic washing machine to wash the sugar while the centrifugal is spinning at full speed; after the lapse of a further period of time he throws the gate leading from. the curbing, so as to effect a separation between the original liquor and the wash liquor spun od by the centrifugal into the curbing; and after the .lapse of a still further period of time he cuts off the power, applies the brake and brings the centrifugal to rest, which completes the cycle for that charge. its previously stated, the operator should allow a definite period of time to elapse between each of these operations. lf these periods are` kept uniform from cycle to cycle, the resulting product discharged from the centrifugal will be uniform, but if they are not kept uniform there will be a. tendency for the product to vary, and this is undesirable. @bviously the instincts and faculties of the man who operates the centrifugals is not always an accurate means for measuringr time, and therefore there is a corresponding' variation in the time periods which he allows to elapse in his usual manual mode of performing the above operations.

@ne of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, accurate and dependable arrangement and combination of parts whereby the foregoing operations will be automatically performed in accurate t-ime sequence, thereby securing greater accuracy in the measurement of the above periods of time,` and also securing some saving in labor by transferring the above described opera tions from the manual operator to the con trol equipment.

@ther objects and benefits of this inven tion will be made clear by the accompanying drawings, the following detailed description, and the accompanying claims.

Serial No. 193,647.

ln the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a vertical section through one form of time measuring equipment which constitutes a part of my invention.

ll ig. 2 is a similar section taken at right angles to llign l.

lllig. 3 is a transverse section talren on lines afs, see lTig". d.

llig. l is an enlarged sectional view showing the details of the parts located near the top of hig. l.

ig. 5 is a similar enlarged sectional view showing the details of the parts located near the bottom of Figs. l and El.

ig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a belt driven centrifugal machine equipped with my invention.

Fig. 'l' is a diagrammatic view of a direct connected electric driven centrifugal equipped with my invention.

ig. 8 is al frag'm-entalview showing a section taken on line wahr@ of llllig. l..

l1" ig. 9 is a partial section showing a detail that will be hereinafter described.

liig. 10 is similar to lllig. 9 but shows the relation of the parts after they have been actuated from the'position shown in lig. 9.

ll is a side view of the detail illustrated in Figs. 9 and l0, this view being a section along the lines aiu-*rou in ll'ig. lt).

'llhe broader aspects of this invention are best illustrated in lligs. 6 and 7. lliig. 6 shows same in combination with a standard belt driven centrifugal, whereas llig. 'l shows it in combination with a. standard direct connected electric motor driven centrifugal.

he invention however is applicable irrespective of the particular mode of drive, and in addition to the drives shown, a water drive, or any other mode of drive may be used, the corresponding and equivalent parts in these variousdrives being apparent.

ln Figs. 6 and 'i' the centrifugal proper consists of basket l carried by 'the rotatable spindle 2 which is suspended from a stationary head member 3, the latter being" in turn supported by structural steel which is omitted from thedrawings for clearness.

rlhe rotatable basket l4 is surrounded by a stationary curbing l, having a liquor drain 5 adapted to direct liquor from the curbing on to the movable gate 6. This gate is pivotally mounted on pin 7, and in one position shown by the full lines in higa. 6 and 'l it till lllll directs said liquor into trough 8, whereas in other position shown by the dotted lines this gate directs the liquor into the neighboring trough 9.

In connection with the centrifugal there lis usually provided some form of washer, or

- is supplied to these washers through a connection 11, the piping to ,same being omitted in the drawings. Within the washer box there is a valve 129, see Fig. 11, for starting and stopping the How of water through the washer. On top of the box there is a starting lever 12, and when same'is thrown to its going position this automatically opens the valve and allows the water to iow through the nozzle arm 12EL to set up a spray 13 impinging on the basket 1; At the same time this nozzle arm is started oscillating in such a. manner as-.to sweep the spray 13 up and down, from the top of the basket to the bottom within the limits indicated by the lines 13aL and 13b, Figs. 6 and 7.' These washers also have automatic measuring means, whereby the quantity of water dispensed by the washer is measured, and the washer automatically stops when the measured amount of water is dispensed. The amount can also be readily adjusted and changed to suit the requirements. As pre-` viously stated however these washers are standard equipment, well known in the industries,.and fully illustrated and described in the above mentioned Hartman patent. For that reason the details of this particular washing equipment are not repeated in the drawings submitted herewith.

Near the top of spindle 2; and rigidly fastened thereto, there is usually apulley or drum member 14:.

When the centrifugal is belt driven, the most ,usual arrangement at present in use is illustrated in Fig. 6. 4 In this form the driving means consists of a driving pulley 15, and quarter twisted belt 16 running around pulleys 14 and 15, and being guided by idler pulley 17. Through this pulley 15,

but without being fastened thereto, runs the constantly rotating power shaft 18, which may properly be designated as the power supply, or source of power, for the reason that it is this shaft which supplies the power to the said driving means when connection is established between them. For the purpose of connecting and disconnecting said driving means to the said poweru shaft, for starting and stopping the centrifugal, there is provided a standard clutch 19, one part 20 of which is secured to rotate with power shaft 18, and another part of which is arranged in the usual manner to connect and disconnect frictionally with driving pulley 15, on the inner face of same. This clutch is standard however, and since its details are well known in the industry, and form no part of this invention, it is shown only diagrammatic-.ally in the drawings. As a part of this standard clutch, and for the purpose of operatively connecting and disconnecting it with the driving pulley 15, there is a sector 21 pivotally mounted at 22, and having gear teeth 23 at one side and a shifting pin 24 at the other side, the latter being adapted to engage and disengage the clutch in the usual manner when the sector 21 is rocked to and fro on its pivotal support 22. rI'here is also a shaft 25 having a gear pinion 26 at one end, meshing with gear teeth 23 on the sector, and a handwheel 2T at the other end of said shaft 25. 'lhe handwheel 27 is of course conveniently located for Vthe operator, so that he can throw same one pinion 26 rocks the sector 21 to engage and disengage the clutch with driving pulley 15, as indicated. It is this mode of connecting and disconnecting the power source or power shaft 18 with the driving means, that is used in starting and stopping the centrifugal.

In order to bring the centrifugal rapidly to rest after the power is disconnected, a standard type of brake is furnished on all commercial centrifugals. One type of such standard brake is diagrammatically shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and comprises the brake shoe or shoes 28 adapted to frictionally engage the inner face of the pulley or drum 14. rIhe brake shoes are connected with the usual mechanism terminating in brake lever 29, the details of such brake mechanism being omitted from the drawings for the reason that same are well known in the industry, and also because this invention does not depend upon the particular details of the brake.

When the centrifugal is driven by the direct connected electric motor drive, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, instead of the belt drive previously described, then the driving means consists in the electric motor 30, instead of the driving pulley and belt; the power source or power supply consists in the electric power line 31, Fig. 8, instead of the constantly rotating power shaft previously described; and the means for connecting and disconnecting the driving motor` consists in the standard switch box 32, instead of the clutch, and the standard switch mechanism in this switch box can be opened and closed by the rocker shaft 33 which is rigidly connected to the lUU lil

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till

same lever 29, which opens and closes the brake through an actuating link 34C. ln this form the brake is obviously interlocked mechanically with the means for connecting and disconnecting the power. 1When lever 29 is raised to its uppermost position the brake is disconnected and the power is turned onto thc motor in switch box 32, but when the lever Q9 is pulled down to its lowest position the power is disconnected in switch box 32 and the brake is applied to the inner face of brake drum let. 'lhis prevents the possibility of the brake and power being on at the same time. rlhe latter would be undesirable for obvious reasons.

As previously described, all the foregoing equipment is standard, and is well known in the industries, and for that reason has been illustrated in the drawings only diagrammatically, in order to show the coaction and connection of 4the applicants automatic equipment with the foregoing standard equipment.

lbefore describing this new automatic equipment it will be helpful to review the present mode of manually operating the foregoing standard centrifugal, asthis will aid in better understanding the features and advantages of the automatic equipment subsequently referred to.

`For this description the operationv in a sugar refinery will be used, it being understood that the operation in other industries is modified to suit the requirements of those industries.

ln a sugar refinery the operator loads into basket l the materia-l to be centrifuged. ltlle then starts the machine spinning by connecting the driving means with the power supply. lle does this in the' belt driven type, Fig. 6, by turning handwheel 2? in the correct direction, which through rocker shaft 25, pinion Q6, sector 2l, and shifting pin 2d, throws clutch member i9 so as to operatively connect the constantly rotating power shaft 18 with loose pulley l5, which begins to turn and by aid of belt 16 commences to turn the centrifugal. lWith the direct connected drive, liig. 7, the operator accomplishes the same result by raising 'lever 29 to its uppermost position which closes the switch in switch bon 32, thereby applying the power from the electric power circuit 3l to driving motor 30, and the motor and centrifugal then begin to turn. The centrifugal comes to full speed rapidly, and the liquor component of the material in the basket is spun out under the action of centrifugal force, through the foraminous cylindrical wall of the basket, and is caught andcollected by the stationary curbing t. 'llhis liquor drains out of the -curbing through spout 5, and the gate 6 directs the first liquor that comes off into trough 8. After the opera-tor has allowed this spinning operation to proceed for a given period of time, which he measures or yudges by his instincts, and which presumably is sufciently long to allow all the free liquor in the material to spin out, he then starts the automatic f'asher in opera-tion by turning starting lever l2 to its going position. lflater then comnicnccs to flow through this washing equipment, and is sprayed onto the material in the basket by an oscillating spray as previously indicated. rllhis spray moves up and down between the limits 13 and 18h, so as to uniformly distribute the wash water over the material in the basket. 'lhe automatic washer automatically measures the amount of water, and after the fixed amount is dispensed the washer automatically cuts itself out of action, terminates the flow of water, and the handle l2 retrievesto its original position, all this being accomplished without any effort or attention from the operator, except that it was originally necessary for him to have started the washing operation by throwing lever l2, as described. The wash water of course penetrates the material in the rapidly revolving basket, washes saine, and incidentally dissolves and absorbs a portion of the material, this wash water being finally spun out under the action of centrifugal force through the foraininous cylindrical wall of the basket and being collected by curbing a, the saine as the original liquor that preceded it. rllhis wash water however is often richer than the original liquor, and for that reasonit is desired to keep it separate from the original liquor. llor this reason the operator, either at the time of starting the washer going, or shortly thereafter, throws gate tl so that this gate discharges into trough 9 instead of trough 8. 'llhe wash liquor then drains out of the curbing through spout 5, onto the gate and is collected in trough 9, thereby effecting its separation from the original liquor, which is collected in trough 8, as previously described. After the washing operation is completed the operator allows the centrifugal to continue spinning for a given period of time during which the last traces of moisture and wash water are spun out of the basket in order to dry the solid material which remains in the basket, having been unable to pass out because of the fineness of the openings through the foraminous cylindrical wall of thc basket. This material should be dried by this centrifugal drying action to a degree where its dryness is the greatest possible, short of solidifying or caking the solid material in the basket. t must not solidify because it would then be excessively difficult to discharge it from the basket. ln other words, the last mentioned interval of time is instinctively measured by the operatorto the point where the maximum possible dryness of the material is reached, short of solidifying same. lVlhen this period or interval elapses the optill lll)

.erator disconnects the centrifugal driving the operator discharges the solid material collected in the basket. Usually this discharging operation is performed cby a hand actuated machine bolted to the top of curbing 4 and adapted to plow the sugar out of the basket l, while same is rotating slowly. Such hand actuated machines are called dischargers. They are very common and well known in the industry, and are not illustrated in the drawings because this invention has no direct connection with the physical parts of the discharger. l wish to point out, however, that during the discharging operation it is necessary to rotate the basket slowly, which is accomplished by .skillfully manipulating handwheel 27 so as to allow the clutch to slip considerably in order that the centrifugal turns slowly to permit the discharging, and yet with no tendency to bring the centrifugal to a high speed because the latter would render the discharging operation very dangerous. Even when the material is discharged by hand, instead of with a mechanical discharger, it is necessary to turn the centrifugal slowly under power in order to make the dischanging operation both safe' and possible. The important point to notice is that this slow speed required by the centrifugal during discharging, makes it necessary for the operator to more or les's continually manipulate his power control means in order to keep the centrifugal turning and yet prevent its racing. This is particularly referred to bedause it has an important bearing on one part of my invention described below. When the material is discharged from the basket in ,the manner indicated, the centrifugal cycle is completed, and the operator is ready to start the machine on its next cycle, which he does `by recharging the basket, and the above sequence of operations is repeated.

To summarize briefly the foregoing operation, and to point out more clearly its connec-tion with the automatic equipment about to be described, it will be noticed that after the operator has charged and started his machine he reliesynpcn his instincts for timing otll a given period of time, after which he starts the automatic washer by pushing lever 12, and he also shifts gate' 6 from trough 8 to 9; he then Pfurther relies on his instincts for timing OflNanl additional given period of time after which he turns ed the power and applies the brake by manually actuating hlandwheel 27 and brake lever 29, Fig. 6, or-

lever 29 only, Fig. 7. Y

` It is these steps of starting the washer and throwing the gate after one period of time, and of turning oit the power and applying the brake after another. period of time, that my inventions performs automatically in a very successful inanner that has several distinctive features of invention which will now be described.-

My automatic equipment consists principally of the following parts, to wit: Some appropriate form of timing mechanism or time control mechanism; also some appropriate mechanisms connected with said time control mechanism and adapted to start the washing operation, to throw the gate, to disconnect the power, and to apply the brake.

In addition to the general coaction of these parts with each other and with the centrifugal mechanism, several of these parts contain distinctive subject matter of invention which may be advantageously used in connection with totally different forms or types of the other parts. p

My time control means, or timing mechanism, shown in this application uses the lollowing principle for measuring time. lf

water is allowed to iiow under constant pressure through a given orifice a fixed amount will always he discharged in the same period of time, or conversely the amount discharged will always be in direct proportion to the time. c

I therefore provide some means for maintaining watcr or other fluid under a constant pressure; also an orifice through which the water may flow; also a timing reservoir into which the water flows from the orifice; and finally means that becomes actuated by the water when the latter iills the timing reserservoir to the particular amount for which it is set. l

ln Fig. 6, if show one form of means for supplying water under a constant pressure, this means consisting of a tank 35, to which water is supplied through pipe 3G and fioat valve 37, which is actuated in the usual manner to maintain a constant-water level 38 in the tank. From this tank pipe 39 leads the water to the orifice fitting 40, from which the water passes into timing reservoir 41. The details of this orifice fitting are best shown in Fig. 5, aided by Figs. 1 and 2. rlhis fitting has an adjustable needle valve 42 entering the bottom of a How plug 43. llihe object of this is to permit the area of the orifice to be changed so as to vary the rate at which the water flows through it. The iiow plug 43 has a vertical port 44 and a horizontal port 45, see Fig. l, causing the water to enter timing reservoir 41 in a horizontal jet. l prefer to make the flow plug 43 and needle valve 42 of some very hard non-corrosive metal such as Monel metal which insures against variations'in the area of the orifice through rust or corrosion, or through the reaming action of the water that passes through it. However, even with the best of materials some wear of this character will eventually occur, but this till lid

adjusting the water level is rising at places above and becan be compensated for by the valve hana low said floats, or between them, and this of needle valve 42, by means of dle 46.

the flow plug 43 will be constant, and there- Gbviously when fore under the above described principle the merged it is actuated or lifted by 1ts buoyant water will hll up the -timing reservoir 41 at and it is this action in the a rate almost directlyproportionate to the types of my reservoir which Y I use for in some time of How through the orihce.

. way actuating or controlling the mechanism This timing reservoir could be arranged in located at the centrifugal for openin the various ways for indicating the instant at Washer, throwing the gate, `cutting o the which itis hlled with water to a predeter- "power and applying the brake. mined place or amount, and to actuate some In considering the various means that auxiliary mechanism at that instant for concould be employed for controlling 'or pertrolling the above described centrifugal opforming these operations at the centrifugal erations, but l have illustrated my preferred by the force set up through the buoyancy of form of timing reservoir and auxiliary the floats, various arrangements could obniechanism in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, as same viously be devised. In the rst place the timhas some advantages which I desire to point ing reservoir could be located very close to out. the centrifugal, and the buoyant impulse of For instance, of the various means that the floats could be directly impartedthrough could he used to indicate when the water has push rods, levers, etc. to operate the required entered the reservoir to a predetermined parts of the centrifugal. Also the timing amount, and to be actuated at that time, I. prereservoir could be remotely located from the fer to use lloats, and more particularly floats centrifugal and the buoyant action of the of the type indicated at 47 and 48, Figs. 1 and floats could be utilized to close electrical re- 2. lhese Heats may be described as inverted lay circuits which could in turn be utilized cups open at the bottom and -iitting quite in very simple manner for controlling the reclosely within the walls of the'reservoir 41, /quired operations at the centrifugal. In adthe floats being guided aud held central in dition, other modes of connection between 49 the timing reservoir cast integrally with the float. It is advisreadily suggest themselves, but out of the of various possible mechanisms I refer to imaluminum for lightness. Such inverted cup part the buoyant force of theV oats to supsee Fi s. l, hlled with trapped waterrtthrough leakage 3, 4 and 6, 7 g and thereby lose their buoyancy. As the suitable pressure medium, such as compressed water rises in the reservoir and reaches the air or Water, oil, or other medium under presbottom open edge 50 of the Hoats, the water Vsure can be supplied through pipe connectraps the air inside `the float, which prevents ions to cylinders 54, 55, 56, and 57, Fig. 6, for the further rise of the Water within the lloat respectively actuating the washer, gate, powand obliges it to rise through the restricted er control means, and brake, and when closedv s ace 51 between the outside of thevfloat and the pressure medium will automatically be t e inside of the reservoir 41. The restrictexhausted from said cylinders through said In the electrically driven centrifugal shown in Fig. 7, the presence of the water level. This is due starting the Washto the fact that though the Water level might er and throwmg the gate, are identical. with have been rising quite slowly in the reservoir the corresponding cylinders shown in Fig. 6, below the lower edge 50 of the floats, neverbut the one cylinder 58, Fig. 7, is sucient to theless when the water level reaches edge 50, both disconnect the power and apply the it sweeps upv ard very rapidly throughout brake. This is because the switch box 32 the height 52 of the float, this greatly celerated ascent of the water level being due through lever 29, as prevlously described,

around the Hoat body is very small compared 7, takes the with the total area of the reservoir at places 57 in Fig. 6.

above and below the o'at. In other Words, The. construction of the supplementary from the time that thel water level reaches the valves 53 and 53', lower edge 50, both of ioats 47 and 48, to the floats 47 and 48 is best illustrated in Figs, 1, time when these floats are completely sub- 2, 3 and 4. These valves consist of a valve merged in water, and thereby actuated by body 59 having an inlet opening 60, an outlet their buoyancy, is very brief, especially when opening 61, an exhaust port 62, and an upconapared with the slow rate and the centrifugal will` through which, vwhen opened, a

and their connection with at which the Wardlyfacing valve seat 63 located between 130 the inlet and outlet openings and 61, and a downwardly facing valve seat 64 located between the outlet and exhaust openings 6l and 62. In this valve body there is a vertically moving stem consisting of an upper part 65, a lower part 66, and a rod or pin 67 joining parts 65 and 66 in such manner that they move and operate as a unit. The top portion 68 of stem part 65 lits nicely in thevertical hole 69 through the valvef-body, and likewise the lower part ,70 of stem part 66 fits nicely in the similar hole 69" in the valve body, the idea being that these parts 68 and 70 of the valve stem should nicely guide the stem up and down in hole 69 of the vaive body. The bottom contour of stem part 65and the upper contour of stem part 66 is suitably beveled to seat accurately on the corresponding" valve seats 63 and 64, so as to preventthe passage of the pressure medium, compressed air, water, etc., paed these valve seats, except when o The length of the valve stem between t ese valve faces 71 and 72 is slightly larger than the distance between the corr nding valve seats 63 and 64 of the valve y, and this permits the valve stem to have a certain amount of vertical motion within the valve bod When the valve stem is pushed upwar' valve face 72 seats against the seat,64. In this position the pressure medium supplied through the valve inlet opening 60 passes freely through the'valve and out through the outlet opening 61. The right hand valve in Fig. 4 is shown in this position, and in order to distinguish this valve from the left hand one, the former is designated as 53', whereasthe latter retains its designation as 53. When the valve stem `however is allowed to drop under its own weight, valve face 71 closes onto valve seat- Y 63, thereby closing the valve at this point, but

olplening it between seat 64 and face 72. At t 's time the inlet opening 60-is cut off from outlet opening 61, but the latter is open to give free passage to and through the exhaust opening 62. The left hand valve 53 in Fig.' 4 is shown in the position just described.

The means by ,which floats 47 and 48 are connected to raise and lower th e valve stems will now be described.

Float 47 is connected with a push rod 73 which runs right up through the center of the cylindrical reservoir 41, L and through a shroudV or apron 74 which is cast as an integral part of the upper float 48. The push rod 73 is small enough to easily clear the opening throu h shroud 74 of the upper float, an

there ore this rod can move up and down with the lower float without in any way touching or affecting the u per float. At a place above the reservoir 41 the central push rod 73 is connected to a ferrule member 75, Figs. 1

and 3, the latter view showing this member best. lhere aretwoLpins 76 projecting a short distance radiallv from this ferrule, and

these pins serve to connect the forked lever 77 to ferrule 7 5, and since the latter is securely fastened to push rod 73 by means of set screw 78, the lever 77 is in eifectconnected with the push rod 73 by the swivel connection afforded by pins 76. The lever' 77 in its turn is pivotally supported or hung on pin 79, and at its outer end is counterweighted by an enlarged portion 80 which is sufficiently heavy to almost, but not quite, counterbalance the push rod 73 and float 47. A set screw 81 is mounted on the head casting 82 and is set down fairly close to lever 77 as indicated in Fig. 4. From this description it will be apparent that when there is no water in the timing reservoir, or if there is water therein but inn insutlicient amount to submerge the lower iloat 47, then this float and push rod will drop of their own weight and pull the inner leg of lever 77 downward until the outer leg butts against the bottom of set screw 81 and is arrested thereby.` At this time there will be clearance between the pushing face 83 of lever 77 and the bottom of the valve stem, this clearance being indicated best on the opposite lever 84, Fig. 4 which will be 'described presently. When the push rod 73 is raised however, as occurs when its float 47 is submer ed, the inner leg of lever 77 is raised by the uoyant force of the iloat, and the pushing face 83 pushes on the bottom of the valve stem and raises the latter until the valve face 72 closes against the seat 64, Fig. 4. In other words, the raising and lowerin of float 47 by the rise and fall of the water evel opens and closes the valve 53 as will be clearly understood in connection with the previous description of the valve construction.

Just as the lower float 47 is connected with the valve 53', so the u per float 48 is connected with the opposite va ve 53, the shape of the connecting parts however-being slightly different. The upper float has two push rods 85, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and these push rods are embraced at a place above the timing reservoir by a forked ferrule 86 having the yoke 87. This ferrule can be locked to the push rods 85 by means of set screws 88, Figs.V 3 and 4, and from the inner portion of this ferrule 86 project two pins 89, which pivotally connect the swivel to the forked lever 84, the same as the previousl described pins 76, Fig. 3, connect ferrule 5 to lever 77. Lever 84 is pivotally carried by pin 90, has a valve pushing face 91, is limited in its movement ne way by set screw 92, and has an enlarged counterweight portion 93 as its outer extremity, the functions andpurposes of all of which are identical with the correspond o' features of the opposite lever 77 as previous y described, and from the foregoing construction it will be understood that the upper float 48 therefore controls the left hand valve 53, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the same as the lower float 47 controls the right hand valve 53.

Yllie means tor gradually lling the timing reservoir 41 with water having been previously described, l will new describe the means for rapidly emptying the water ont of this reservoir at the end ot the cycle. rlhis emptying means primarily consists of a large valve l0- rated atthe bottom of the timing reservoir, this valve being best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. lit consists ot the valve seat 94 against which lits the heavy rubber packer 95 which is carried between the head 96 and the heavy lead weight 97, this weight having the 'cap screw 98 embedded therein torthe purpose of fastening the weight to head 96. The rod 99 is fastened to head 96 by means of a pin 100 and a cup leather 101 is fastened to the lower part ot rod 99 in the usual manner to form a leakproot piston operatingsin the Cylinder 102. Near the centrifugal, and at a position that can be conveniently reached by the operator, there is a three-way valve 103, Fig. 6, having the three ports 104, 105, and 106, and the central valve core or stein 107 having the port 108. lll hen this valve is set in the position shown in liig. (i a pressure medium' comprising air, water or other lluid under pressure is supplied trom the line 109 through this valve to line 110 which connects into the bottom of cylinder- 102 below piston 101, andthis pressure medium raises this piston and all the parts connected therewith, including packer 95 olf the valve seat 94, -thereby emptying the water out el the reservoir 41. rlhis water passes out through the large, pipe connection 111 from whenceit may be discharged either into the sewer or into some suitable pumping arrangement to again lead it into the supply tank 35 lFig. 0, to be used over and over again. llt is not necessary to show the latter connections as they are optional with the user of this `control equipment. As long as the valve 103 remains in its position shown in Fig. 0, the pressure medium will hold the enp leather piston 101, rod 99, packer 95 and the other connected parts, in their uppermost position, i. e., packer 95 will be lifted olf seat 94, and the water which continues to enter the timing reservoir 41 from tank 35 through dow plug 43 will not @llect in the reservoir but will immediately and cntinuously pass out between paeirer 95 and seat 94 so long as the latter are held apart. However when the operator atthe centrifugal desires to start the timing action in the reservoir, i. e., when he i desires the water to collect and rise in the resn ervoir instead ot discharging through pipe 111, as he does desire to do when he starts the centrifugal on. its next cycle after having charged same and started it spinning, he simply turns the valve handle 112, of valve 103, indicated diagrammatieally in Fig. 6, 90 o to the right in direction of arrow a which causes valve port 108 to establish communication between ports 105 and 100,.'the latter being an erhaust port as previously described, and

motion of both this theretoreA causes the pressure medium to be immediately exhausted from cylinder 102 out through exhaust port- 106, and under the action of weight 97, the valve packer 95 drops quickly onto valve seat 94 closing the opening at that point and thereafter causing the water that enters through the dow plug to collect and rise in the timing reservoir 41, instead of discharging into the discharge pipe 111 as it was previously doing. -From the foregoing description it is et course understood that as the water level rises in the timing reservoir, it presently reaches and rapidly sweeps over the lower float 47, thereby lifting same a small amount to actuate valve 53 as previously described, after which the water level continues to rise slowly above this float until it reaches and rapidly sweeps over the upper float 48 and therebylifts same a small amount to actuate valve 53, as previously described. In Figs. 1 and 2 the timing operation is in progress, the water level having already reaehed position 113 in its upward course.

"per float 48 will still be at its normal lowermost position as limited by set screw 92. When the water level presently reaches this upper float it will be raised a small amount, like float 47 had previously been, the upward valve faces 72 butt against their seats G4 in valves 53 and 53. Obviously the time that elapsed from the instant when the operator threw the valve handle 112 to the position that drops the packer 95 onto seat94, to the time when the lower float and valve 53 are actuated by the rising water level, and likewise the time elapsing from this instant to the instant when the upper iioat and its valve 53 are actuated by the rising water level, depends upon the respective heights of float 47 and 48 in the timing reservoir and these intervals willalways remain the same as long as these heights remain the same, andas long as the water pressure entering flow plug 43 remains constant. Sometimes however it is necessary to change the length of these time intervals, and this can be done by raising or lowering either or both floats to any desired height or position in the timing reservoir. rlfhe height of Heat ening set screw 78 and by raising or lowering push rod 73 which carries float 47, and which will pass freely up or down through ferrule until float 47 is inits new desired Vposition at which place it can be secured by ret'astening set screw 78. Likewise the height ol float 48 can be changed by loosening setlscrews 88 and by raising or lowering push reds 85, 'which carry dont 48, and which will :freely pass up or down through terrule 8G when the set screws are loose, and when Heat 48 is in its new desired position itcan be lined there by, again tastenmg the set screws 88. lt is by means oli 47 can be changed by loos o At this time the lower loat 47 will floats being limited as the ing 1132, and this plate can be graduated as youd the valves.

indicated in Fig. 2 so that by reading or sightng across thc top end of push rod 73 onto these` graduations, and by sighting across the lower edge 1133 of yoke v1134, against the graduations, the above'described time intervals for any particular ioat setting can be read directly in minutes and seconds. It is obvious that the upper edge of push rod 73 gives theposition of the lower float 47 and the lower edge 1133 of the yoke gives the setting of the upper float 48. The yoke 1134 is fastened to the push rods 85 at their upper extremity. The use of such an index plate calibrated either directly in minutes and seconds or else calibrated in inches to give the exact height of the floats in the reservoir, is found very convenient in practice as a means of accurately changing the time intervals at which the floats are actuated.

In regard to the manner in which the compressed air or other pressure medium is supplied to the valves 53 and 53', Fig. Gshowsthat from the supply line 109 previously described, a branch pipe 114 leads the pressure lnedimn to the inlet connection 60 which enters the inlet ports or openings 60 of both valves 53 and 53. When the valve stems in these valves are in their lowermost position, as is the case when the floats are not buoyed up against them, the valves of course close off the pressure medium so that the latter cannot get be- As the floats however are respectively raised to lift the valve stems,

lthe compressed air, or other pressure medium `is released through valves 53 and 53 into suitable connections that lead respectively to the washer and gate throwing mechanism from valve 53 and to the power control and brake mechanism from valve 53. At these terminal points the compressed air, or other pressure medium, could be utilized in various ways to start the washer, throw the gutter, disconnect the driving means from the power supply an'dxapply the brake. One of the most obvious modes of actuating these part's would be to have a weight or spring controlled mechanism which tends to normally push each of these parts, particularly the power control and brake mechanism, in the direction in which the man would push them when the time for actuating these parts is reached. The constant pushing ltendency of these weights lor spring controlled mechanisms could normally be arrested by simple latch mechanisms until the time is reached for the weights or springs to function in actuating their respective parts, and small cylinders, or other suitable devices, could then be used to pull out the latches and permit the weight or spring controlled members to function when the compressed air from valves 53 and 53 is supplied to them. There -are several objections however to such weight or spring controlled mechanisms, particularly in regard to their use in conjunction with the power control and brake mechanism. In a general way the nature of these objections becomes apparent in connection with the previous remarks which I have made regarding the necessity of the operator continually manipulating the power control and brake mechanism during the discharging of the centrifugal. In this period he constantly manipulates the handwheel 27, Fig. 6, or control lever 29, Fig. 7, back and forth in order to connect with the power source to start and keep the centrifugal turning slowly for discharging, but he promptly disconnects from the power source as soon as the centrifugal speed rises because rapid rotation makes discharging dangerous.A This continual manipulation of the power control and brake mechanism during discharging is fairly diicult and requires some skill by the operator. The addition therefore of spring or weight controlled mechanisms which would constantly tend to throw the power on and the brake off, except when the operator threw the power control and brake lever far enoufh over to catch them in the latch,"would still further complicate the already ditlicult operations of the operator during the discharging period. In the first place the force of the springs or weights lnust be considerable in order to promptly actuate the power control and brake mechanism when the time for such actuation normally arrives, but during the discharging operation the operator would be obliged to push more vigorously on the power control in order to overcome the added spring or weight pressure, and this added exertion would make his work more diicult at a period when increased diiiiculties are extremely undesirable because of the dangerous character of discharging. Likewise if he accidentally happened to throw the power control or brake mechanism so far, during the discharging operation, that they caught in the latch, he could notpull backeither the power control or brake without first releasing the latch, and to impose this possible burden on him would be very undesirable because of the damage that might be done to the discharging equipment through high speed reached before the power could be cut olf and the brake applied. I have found however that all of these objections ean be very easily and perfectly overcome by use of cylinders generally of the type of those shown at 56 and 57, Fig. 6, and 58, Fig. 7, these cylinders bein connected directly to the power control and brake mechanism for actuating the latter. When com ressed air, or other pressure medium is applic to cylinder 56, it operates through crank 56'* t0 turn shaft in the same direction that the operator would have done if he grasped and turned handwheel 27 in the usual way for disconnecting from the power by disengaging the clutch mechanism. Also when compressed air is supplied to cylinder 57, Fig. 6, this cylinder pushes down brake lever 29 in the same direction and manner that the man does when he applies the brake. Also, when compressed air, or other pressure medium, is supplied to cylinder 58, Fig. 7, it pushes down the lever 29 which is in this figure simultaneously serves to disconnect the power in switchbox 32 and to apply the brake as previously described. However the instant that the compressed a-ir, or other pressure medium, is released from these cylinders 56, 57 and 58, they immediately become inert or neutral, by which I mean that they do not continue to push their respective members in the direction that they do when the air is applied. In fact when the compressed air is off, these cylinders exert no influence whatever upon their connected members, and this is much better than the above proposed spring or weight controlled attachments because the latter are constantly pressing forward on their connected members ex cept when the latter has been thrown over far. enough to engage a latch. By using cylinders in the manner that I have shown for disengaging the power and applying the brake, the workof the operator during the discharging operation is in no wise increased or rendered more complicated than it was before this au` tomatic equipment was installed, the reason obviously being that during the discharging operation the compressed air is oft the cylinders 56, 57 and 58, and these cylinders are therefore dragged back and forth when the connected parts are manipulated, with no resistive force except the extremely small amount of friction in the cylinders and this is so little that the operator neither notices nor minds it. In Fig. 6, even though I have shown cylinder 56' connected to Shaft 25 through crank 56a, as the means for disengaging the clutch, nevertheless it is obvious that this cylinder 56 may be connected to other parts of the power control mechanism for the purpose of disconnecting the driving pulley 15 from the power source which consists in the constantly rotating power sha-ft in Fig.

To summarize, the important feature which I have tried to point outin the foregoing description regarding cylinders 56, 57 and 58, is that they are connected directl to the power and brake control means, and t at they actuate the latter directly, instead of merely pulling out latches to release weight or spring controlled mechanisms which actuate the power and brake control members. Of course if the designer or user of this automatic equip.- nient desires to use the force of compressed air, or other pressure medium, or electrical impulses, to pill out such latches for releasing weight or spring controlled mechanisms, to

`tan'tageous to use cylinder 54 connected with Washer control handle 12 for starting the washer, and cylinder connected with gutter 6 for throwing this gutter from trough 8 to trough 9. r'Normally the counterweight 55a, Figs. 6 and 7, directs gutter 6 into trough 8, but the upward movement in cylinder 55 throws the gutter over to vious manner.

Each of the cylinders 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 respectively have the following parts, to wit: suitable packers or pistons preferably con sisting of cup leathers 54', 55', 56', 57', and 58'; also piston rods 542, 552, 562, 572, and 582; and also supporting pins 543, 553, 563, 573 and 583. Each of the piston rods for these various cylinders is respectively connected to the part which it actuates, as is obvious from Figs. 6 and 7, nand also the supporting pins just described iit loosely in each of the cylinders in such manner as to permit the cylinders tovrock and humor themselves on these pins to permit the angular movement imposed on the cylinders as the connected parts swing on their respective pivots. Of course these supporting pins are in C,their turn each supported by some suitable structure, but the latter has been omitted from thev figures for purposes of clearness, and an average mechanic will have no trouble Whatever in arranging suitable supporting structure for these pins under the various circumstances and conditions for installation as found in the places Where this automatic equipment may be used.

By reference to Fig.` 6 it isrseen that the valve 53' has its outlet connection 61' leading from outlet opening 61,n connected through pipe 115 to Washer cylinder 54, and through a branch pipe 116 to the gate control cylinder 55. Likewise valve 53 has its outlet connection 61' leading from outlet opening 61, connected through pipe 117 to cylinder 56, and if desired, the dotted line branch 118, Fig. 6, can connectpipe 117 with pipe 119 leading into cylinder 57. Therefore when the valve stem in valve 53 is raised by the lower float 47, then in view yof the previously described valve construction, the compressed air or other pressure medium passes from the supply connection through the valve 53' trough in an ob-1 hand. These operations are accomplished when the timing mechanism reaches the place where the valve stern is pushed upward in valve 53', as previously described. Likewise when the valve stem in valve 53 is raised by x the upper float 48, then the pressure medium passes from supply connection through valve 53 and through pipes 117, 118 and 119 into cylinders 56 and' 57 which respectively disconnect the centrifugal driving means from the power source, and apply the brake as previously described. It is also understood that these latter operations for bringing the centrifugal to rest are automatically accomplished when the timing mechanism reaches the place Where the valve 53 is actuated in this manner.

If the dotted line connection 1,18 joining pipes 117 and 119 is used,-see Fig. 6-, then cylinders 56 and 57 are actuated simulta-- neously, but this has a certain disadvantage because of the fact that the'adjustment of the clutch mechanism and the adjustment of the brake mechanism may sometimes be such that simultaneous action of cylinders 56 and 57 might actually result in a brief period when the clutch is not actually disengaged at the time that the brake is applied, and when this occurs it is obvious that the brake would be lighting against the clutch and power for the short-period during which both the brake and the clutch are on. This of course is detrimental not only to the clutch and brake, but to the belt as well, and should be avoided if possible. For the purpose of avoiding this undesirable condition I therefore prefer t omit entirely the dotted lline connection 118, and instead to connect pipe 119 into the lower end of cylinder 56 at such a place that the pressure medium from pipe 117 only enters cylinder 56 for the purpose of pushing its piston downward to cut off theclutch. During almost the entire amount of this piston movement, and corresponding disengaging movement of the clutch, the pressure medium has no means of entering pipe 119 and cylinder 57. However, when piston 56 in cylinder 56 reaches almost theend of its stroke, which is so adjusted that the clutch is surely disengaged at this point, then this piston 56 opens communication from the upper compression chamber in cylinder 56 to the full line pipe connection 119 entering the lower part of cylinder 56 and permits the compressed air to flow from pipe 117 through cylinder` 56 into pipe 119 and cylinder 57 to actuate the latter and throw on the brake. With this arrangement it is obvious that cylinders 56 and 57 are not actuated simultaneosly, and therefore that the clutch mechanism and brake are not disengaged and applied simultaneously; but on the contrary the clutch mechanism is first completely disengaged by the action of cylinder 56 through almost its entire stroke, before the brake commences to be applied by the admission of the pressure medium to pipe 119 and cylinder 57 It will of course be understood that when dotted line connection 118 is used, then the full line connection of pipe 119 into the bottom of cylinder "56 is omitted, and conversely when the latter' full line connection into cylinder 56 is used, then the dotted line connection 118 is omitted.

In the direct connected electric driven centrifugal shown in Fig. 7 the pipe connection 117 leading from valve 53 is connected directly into cylinder 58, which is the only cylinder used in this form of the invention. This one cylinder 58 serves the double purpose of disconnecting the-power in switchbox 39., and of applying the brake, this being possible because the power control in the switch-box and the brake are mechanically interlocked by means of the shifter shaft 33, shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

In order to permit cylinders 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 to rock and oscillate freely on their respective supporting pins 543, 553, 563, 573 and 588, it is necessary that either the entire pipe lines respectively leading to these cylinders, to wit: p1pe lines 115, 116, 117 and 119, Figs. 6 and 7, should be made et flexible tubing or rubber hose, or else the last portion of these lines for approximately a foot or so at the end where they enter the cylinders should be of flexible tubing or rubber hose, and the balance can then be rigid metallic pipe or tubing. The use of the flexible tubing at the immediate entrance to the cylinder permits the latter as indicated, to rock on their supporting pins in order that the cylinders can accommodate themselves to the swinging motion imposed on them by the various levers, crank etc. to which they are connected.

With the exception of a few details this now concludes the description of the invention.

In operating same the procedure is as l'ollows: While the operator is loading a charge of material into basket 1 of the centrifugal, at the beginning of the cycle, valve 103, which is conveniently located for the operator near the centrifugal, is in the position shown in Fig. 6, wherein the compressed air passes from supply line 109 through valve 103 and pipe 110 into cylinder 102 at the bottom of the timing reservoir 41. As previously described, the actiqn of the pressure medium in this cylinder 102 holds packer 95 ofi its seat 94 in the timing reservoir and permits the water which is constantly entering the timing reservoir from the constant level tank 35 through the flow plug 43 at-a constant rate reservoir under packer 95 into discharge pipe ing. When the drive with the constantly timing 111, instead of collecting in the timing reservoir for the purpose of measuring time which is the function of the Water that is so {iowoperator has fully charged the baslret he throws the power on for the purpose of bringing the centrifugal up to full speed. In the belt driven type of drive, as shown in Fig. 6, he does this by turning handwheel 27 through about 900 in the coi'- rect direction, which actuates the clutch in the usual manner in order to connect the belt rotating power shaft 18. rlhe brake is of course in its uppermost or ed position at this time. -In the electric driven centrifugal the operator starts the machine turning to fullspeed by raising lever 29 to its uppermost position which automatically disengages-the brake and connects up with the powery source in switchbox its soon as the operator has thrown on the power in the manner just described, he considers the cycle as commencing, and he immediately turns lever 112 ot valve 103 through approximately to the right, as indicated by arrow a, and in accordance with the usual principles of three-way valves this cuts ed communication with supply line 109 and opens communication trom pipe 110 to ex haust oit 106, allowing the pressure medium in cylinder 102 to be immediatelyreleased into the air through exhaust port 106 and under the action oi weight 97 in the timing res* ervoir 41, packer is immediately pushed down onto seat 94, thereby closing oil' the outlet from the bottom of the timing reservoir and causing the water, or any other equivalent medium that may be used instead, to accumulate and rise in the timing reservoir as previously described. During this time, and until the :tloats are submerged by the rising water, both valves 53 and 53", Fig. 4, are in the position shown tor the lett hand valve 53 in this figure, i. e., the valve stem is in its lowest position with the valve face 7l down on valve seat 63 so as to shut off the connection from supply 'line 60 which furnishes the pressure medium, or in other words the pressure medium cannot get beyond valves 53 and 53', and the cylinders 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 are entirely inert and without energy. 'However as the water level in the reservoir rises and finally submerges the lower Heat 47, the buoyancy of the float pushes upward the valve stem in valve 53', this action being transmitted through push rod 73 and lever 77, as previously described. 'llhe right hand valve 53', Fig. 4, is shown raised in this manner, and it will be noted that the upper valve face 71 is oit its seat 63, while the lower valve face 72 is pressed up against its seat 64. In this position communication exists between' the supply line 6017 and the outlet connection 61', thereby admitting the rpressure medium to the Washer cylinder 54 and the gate cylinder 55. This starts the washer operating in exactly the saine manner that it would have commenced to operate if the man had opened the washer lever 12 by hand, as was previously the custom. The washer continues to operate in its regular manner as outlined fully in the previously described Hartman patent, and after the Washer has operated to the given amount of time for which it is set, it is automatically cut od' by its own time controlled mechanism within the washer. When the washer was cut on, the nozzle arm 12 which is normally at rest, ilnn'icdiately commences tooscil late in order to sweep the spray between the upper and lower limits 13u and 13b, Figs. 6 and 7, and this oscillation continues while the washer operation continues, and when the washer cuts itselt' ott' under its own time controlled 'Inechanisnn as set forth in the Hartman patent, it not only closes its own time controlled valve, but also disconnects the nozzle arm 12a, so that the latter ceases to oscillate. llso in regard to the syrup gate 6, and gate cylinder 55, Figs. 6 and 7, it will be understood that lprior to the admission ot' the pressure medium through valve 53 into cylinder 55, the action of the counterweight 55d had held the syrup gate 6 in its upper position shown in full lines in .Y the .figure and directing thc original'syrup or liquor spun oil'l from the material in basket 1 and collected and dis? charged from curbing 4 and outlet 5, into trough 8. However when cylinder 55 is energized by the pressure medium supplied through valve 53', this cylinder throws gate 6 so it directs the subsequent liquor troni curbing 4 into gutter 9 instead of gutter 8. The reason tor this separation of the liquors is that the portion that comes from curbing 4 after the washer has commenced to operate is frequently much richer because of having dissolved into itself a portion of the material that is being centrifuged and washed i-n the basket, and it mayv be profitable to subsequent` ly work this liquor differently than the original liquor, due to the increased richness ot' the former. Of course in some industries it is not desired to-separate this wash liquor from the original liquor, and in that case only one trough is used instead of the two shown, and the gate throwing cylinder 55 is omitted. On the other hand, in some industries it is desired to makethe separation between the rich wash liquors and the original liquor as accurate as possible, and this is slightly complicated by the following condition. As the instant when the washing .action commences, the walls of curbing 4 are still dripping with a considerable amount of the original liquor which has been spinning on toit prior'to that instant, and which had not yet had time to drain out of the curbing onto gutter 6. Therefore, if the gate-throwing cylinder 55 wereA fully actuated at the same instant that the washer cylinder 54 is actuated to start the washing, than it might be said that the syrup gate 6 is prematurely thrown from gutter 8 -to gutter 9, because the remaining original liquor that would still be draining off of curbing 4, and would continue to do so for a Afew moments, would drain into the rich original liquor that still clingsto curbing 4,

to completely drain into the original liquor trough 8 before gate 6 shifts from trough 8 to trough 9 in which' the rich wash liquor willw then valone be gathered. One very convenient mode of retarding gate 6 in this manner is to install a finely regulated valve 116' in the pipe 116 leading to cylinder 55. This valve can be throttled down to a very line point so as to cause the pressure medium to only pass very slowly through it into cylinder 55, on which account the latter cylinder will only be actuated very slowly, and gate 6 will therefore pass from trough 8 to trough 9 at a time subsequent to the instant when the washer was thrown on, the amount of the de- Aeo ' ,dium,

Y air operates,

la of course depending on the amount by which valve 116 is throttled down. Also if compressed air is used for the pressure meit might then be a little troublesome to throttle valve 116 sulliciently to appreciably retard the throwing of gate 6 after the starting of the washer.4 If difficulty of this sort, due to the speed with which compressed is encountered, then Y the cylinder 55 and pipe 116 may be filled with water or oil, and an enlarged chamber. 1162, servlmg as a reservoir may be installed in pipe 116, preferably above valve 116. Enough water should be putin to fill the cylinder, pipe 1,16 and a substantial part of reservoir 1162. When the'compressed air then enters chamber 1162 from pipe 115, the air forces thev Water downward to life the piston in cylinder 55, but since no dilieulty whatever will be encountered in throttling or choking down the How of water or oil through valve 116', no difficult will be encountered in retarding the actlon of cylinder.55 in throwing the gate to any degree that might be required. If it is desired that the gate should then drop back quickly under the action of counterweight 55a, from trough 9 to trough 8, Aafter the compressed air is subsequently released at the end of the cycle through valve 53', a by-pass Connection 1163 with a check valve 1164, can then be installed as shown in Fig. 6 for the purpose `of by-'passing around valve 116. stalled to allow the liquid to iow in direction of arrowfb, from cylinder 55 toward reservoir 1162, lint when flowing in the opposite Check valve 1164 should be indirection the check valve should close so as to force the liquid to flow from ieservoir 1162 to cylinder 55 only through the restriction set up by the throttle valve 116. This results in causing the gate to move very slowly When compressed air is admitted to reservoir 1162, and consequently retards the time when gate 6 actually passes from troughs 8 to 9, but causes the gate to move very rapidly in the return direction at the end of the cycle, from troughs 9 to 8. This idea of causing the liquid to enter cylinder 55 very slowly by allowing it to only pass' down through the restricted valve 116', but of allowing it to exhaust itself rapidly from said cylinder by by-passing upward through the copious check valve 1164 as well as the restricted valve 116', is quite useful. It is of course understood. that the water or oil so used slmply surges or moves back and forth from cylinder 55to reservoir 1162, and does not exhaust itselfinto the outer atmosphere during operation. The compressed air which operates on the upper surface of this liquid, may gradually carry away a small portion of the liquid with it due to entrainment, but the amount so dissipated is small and by ocea- Sionally replenishing the supply no trouble is encountered. Instead of the valve 116' it is feasible to use a small flow plug such as a washer or small section of pipe with an extremely small hole through it. In fact any arrangement that greatly restricts the flow through it, may be used. I have proposed the valve 116 because same is adjustable, which enables the operator to easily set it to give the particular retardation in the throwing of gate 6 after the washing commences, that he may desire. Of course as long as the lower `iioat 47 in timing reservoir 41, remains submade, all the liquors thereafter coming from the trough during that cycle should continue to drain into trough 9, and the gate should not go back to trough 8 until the next cycle commences.

After the washing action has been started, and the gate thrown by the automatic action of the timing equipment as previously dcscribed, this equipment continues to measure time by the progressive rising of the water level in the timing reservoir 41, and when the particular period of time has elapsed which corresponds with the position or elevation of the upper float 48 in the timing reservoir, the water level will reach this float, submerge the same, and actuate valve 53 in the same manner as was previously described in conllO operator commenced nection with valve 53. When this occurs valve 53 will release. the pressure medium and permit same to flow freely from the supply connection out through the outlet connection 61 which enters pipe 117, and through same the pressure medium first enters cylinder 5G, Fig. 6, to throw oil' the power as previously described, and then ley-passes into pipe 119 and cylinder 57 to apply the brake as previously described. ln Fig, 'l' the pressure medium enters cylinder 58 which serves the double purpose of throwing od the power and applying the brake. This operation of course results in bringing the centri'tugal to rest quite shortly after the bralre is applied.

Tn reviewing the foregoing operations it will be noticed that from the instant when the the cycle by throwing the handle 112 of valve 103, 90 to the right from its position shown in llig. t, so as to place the centrifugal under the action and control of the automatic equipment, there was nothing further for him to do in connection with the individual o erations he formerly performed by hand. e is no longer obliged to turn on the washer and throw the gate, as these operations are automatically performed for him; and lilzewise he is no longer required to turn ed the power and apply the brake, because these operations are also automatically performed for him. Therefore in place o'f the operator waitingl at hisfcentrifugal for the time to pass until he can respectively perform thcse individual operations, he can now leave his centrifugal and perform other productive work, as for instancetending additional centrifugals which he did not do before. 1n other words, the installation of vthis automatic equipment results in saving labor. and also in performing the above individual steps in more accurate time sequence than the operator was previously able 'to do when measuring time by his instincts only. With this automatic equipment the operator merely charges the centrifugal as previously described, throws the valve handle 112 of valve 103 so as to put the centrifugal under the control of the automatic equipment. then goes about other work at other centrifugals, and when he gets back to the one in questi on it is either completely stopped, or in the act of stopping for him, so that he can discharge the material from the basket, recharge same and go on with the next cycle in the same manner that he did for the previous one.

ils just indicated, when the operator gets back to the centrifugal he linds it at rest waiting for him `to discharge it. At this time however cylinders 56 and 57 are firmly holding the power control means in its olf position, and the brake in its on position, the reason-for this being that the water in the timing reservoir has risen above the uppermost ldoat, and Vtherefore lifts same against its valve 53, which it continues to do until the water is discharged fromtiming reservoir 41., Therefore in order that the operator can release the brake and again apply the power for slowly turning the centrifugal to permit him to discharge the material from the centrifugal, it is necessary for him to throw lever 112, of valve 103, into the position shown in lhig. 6. The pressure medium from supply pipe 109 then enters cylinder 102 at the bottoni of timing reservoir 41, and lifts packer od its seat 94 as previously described, and the entire quantity of water collected in timing reservoir 41 rapidly discharges through outlet pipe 111 from the botn tom of the timing reservoir, and this reservoir is emptied, or in other words reset to the original position that it was in when the cycle was started. ln case the operator is slow in getting back to the centrifugal for the purpose of emptying the timing reservoir as llt) just described, so that the water level rises to an abnormally high point in this reservoir,

then the water will finally overflow through opening 121, see Fig. 2, located nea-r thetop of the timing1 reservoir, and from this openf ing it will flow down through the hose 122 and other connections shown, and discharge out through the discharge pipe 111 asis obvious from flig. 2. This prevents the possibility of the water Howing over the top of timing reservoir 41 onto the door.

As soon as the operator has thrown lever 112, of valve 103 into the position shown in Fig. 6, the downward rush of the water as it discharges from timing reservoir 41 immediately and vigorously pulls both doats 47 and 48 downward, and thereby releases the valves and 53 from the lifting action that the floats had been previousl exerting upon these valves. ll'nder the weig t of the valve stems, plus the force of the pressure medium in the valve bodies, the valve stems immediately drop down to the original position that they were in as shown in the left hand valve 53, see Fig. 4. This not only cuts off communica tion from the supply connection 60 to each of the cylinders 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58, but in addition permits the pressure medium within these cylinders to immediately exhaust itself by passing back through opening 61 into valves 53 and 53', and thence downward and out from the valve through the exhaust port 62 into the atmosphere, this being possible because the lower valve face 7 2 is at this time down oft' its seat 64 as is shown in the left hand valve 53 of Fig. 4.

The pressure medium being thereby released from cylinders 54 and 55, these are instantly retrieved to their original position under the respective action of spring 123 in cylinder 54, and of the counterweight-55at in cylinder 55, the latter-bringing gate 6 back to trough 8 ready for the next cycle as previously described. Likewise, the pressure medium being thus released from cylinders 56 and 57, Fig. 6, and from cylinder 58, Fig. 7, the operator is free to release the brake by pushing hand lever 29 upward, and to commence to turn the centrifugal for discharging, by means of'hand manipulation of the handwheel 27 on the power control. As previously mentioned the operator discharges the centrifugal, and during this period he is continually manipulating the handwheel 27 so as to keep4 the centrifugal turning, but without permitting it to reach a high speed which would be dangerous during the discharging operation. l/Vhile he is engaged in this work it is very helpful to him that the cylinders 56 and 57 are entirely inert, as they then in no manner exert any appreciable resistance against his manipulation of the power controland brake, as would be the case if the power control and brake are actuated by spring or weight controlled expedients. On this account the use of cylinders for this purpose of throwing olf the-power and applying the brake is exceptionally efficient and desirable, and so far as I am aware I am the first person who has used them in this connection and who has pointed out their exceptional benefits and usefulness in this particular application. I therefore consider this feature of my invention of especial pioneer impor` tance. f

Before concluding this specification I would like to refer to Figs. 9, 10 and 11 which show the particular manner in which the Washer cylinder 54 co-acts with the washer mechanism for the purpose of starting or opening same. It will be understood from the previously mentioned Hartman patent, that after once the starting lever 12 is thrown on, which opens the water valve within ythe washer box, and also makes engagement to start the nozzle arm 12a oscillating, the automatic `washers of that type have their own time measuring equipment, and after the time for which the washer is set, elapses, the washer cuts itself off by snapping its control lever 12 back to its original position, which automatically closes the washervalve and disconnects the mechanism which oscillates nozzle arm 12, so that the latter ceases to oscillate. However, if the washer cylinder 54 were directly and permanently connected with the washer control lever 12 in the ordinary manner, it is obvious that this control lever could not snap back to shut olf the washer after the time measuring equipment in the latter reached the point where such shutting olf was normally accomplished. The reason is that the pressure medium in cylinder 54 would continue to hold the washer lever in its going position, and -until the water was discharged from timingreservoir 41, to permit tioat 47 to drop and thereby release the pressure medium from washer ,cylinder 54, it would not ner shown in these figures. rl`he piston rod 542 of this cylinder is equipped with a hard steel projection 124 which is adapted to butt against the horizontal projection 12 ot the washer control lever as shown in Fig. 9, and the piston rod 542 is prolonged to a point where it practically overhangs the nozzle a rm 12a as shownin Figs. 9 and 10. Therefore when the pressure medium enters cylinder 54 to actuate same, the steel projection 124 pushes the control lever 12 to its on or going position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9 and by full lines in Fig.'10. tl/hen this occurs the outer end of the piston rod 542 of cylinder 54 takes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9. Immediately the water commences to flow through the washer, and the nozzle arm 12 commences to oscillatc up and down. As this arm rises from its lowest position shown in Fig. 9 to its uppermost position shown in Fig. 10, it lifts the piston rod 542 upward, the cylinder 54 swinging on its pin 543 for this purpose if necessary, and as the rod 542 rises it lifts the steel projection 124 suiiiciently so that it slips oill the top of the lever portion 12', and under the continued impulse of the pressure medium in cylinder 54, the piston and steel projection 124 move forward to the position shown in Fig. 10, the motion being limited by a stop 125, Fig. 10, butting against the outer overhung extremity 126 of cylinder 54 as shown. IVith this arrangementit is obvious, that even though the pressure medium holds piston 542 in its outermost position as shown in Fig. 10, throughout the remainder of the centrifugal cycle, nevertheless when the timing mechanism within the washer reaches the point where it snaps the control handle 12 of same into its closed or off position, there is no opposition to this action set up by the washer cylinder 54, and the control lever 12 snaps back to its full line position shown in Fig. 9, even though the washer cylinder 54 and the rod 542 remains in its extended position as shown in Fig. 10. At the end of the cycle however when the pressure medium is released from this cylinder as previously described, the spring 123 in this cylinder retrieves the piston to its original position which is as far or further back than the full line position shown in Fig. 9, in which position the mechanism awaits to repeat its functions in the next cycle.

Fig. 11, in addition to showing the co-aci link 131, bell crank 132,

tion between theaiozzle arm 12aL and the piston rod 542 for lifting the latter, also shows diagrammatically the internal connections within the washer box whereby the shaft 128 which is rigidly connected to control lever 12, opens .and closes the water valve 129 lwithin the washer box., These connections essentially consist of arm 130 on shaft 128, loose and valve stem 133 which enters the valve and actuates same in the usual manner. When control lever 12 is\4 thrown one way it pushes valve stem 133 upward to open the valve,- and when the control lever 12 is thrown the other way it draws valve stem 133 downward to close the valve. 'll'he other automatic mechanism within the Washer 10 whereby the time during which valve 129 is kept open, and at the end of which it is automatically closed so as to malte this valve a time controlled valve, and alsothe automatic mechanism -Within this washer whereby. the nozzle arm 12a is started and stopped oscillating when control handle 12 is thrown on and automatically off, need not be shown in the drawings, 'as all these details are fully covered by referring to the above mentioned Hartman patent, the construction and use of which is well known and general throughout the industry particularly on the subject of this Hartman washer measnring the quantity of water by means of the time controlled valve Within it.. ln Fig. 11 water enters this washer from a constant level tank not shown in the drawings, through pipe connection 151, from which it passes through valve 129 when open, into fitting 135, and thence through dexible hose 136 into the rear end of nozzle arm 12a, as indicated in Fig. 11. 'lhe flexible hose 136 permits the nozzle arm to oscillate.

l claim:

1 lln combination, a centrifugal, means for starting said centrifugal, and control means for automatically stopping said centrifugal, said control means including a valve adapted when open to release a pressure medium, means for automatically opening said valve, and means actuated by the pressure medium released by said valv forefl'ecting the said automatic stopping of said centrifugal.

2. ln combination, a centrifugal, means for starting said centrifugal, and control means for automatically stopping said centrifugal, said control means including a time controlled valve adapted when open to release a pressure medium, and means actuated by the pressure medium released by said valve for effecting the said automatic stopping of said centrifugal.

3. In combination, a centrifugal, a curbing, two troughs, a movable gate adapted to direct liquor from said curbing to either of said troughs, and control means for automatically shifting said gate from one to the other of said troughs, said control means including a time controlled valve adapted when open to release a pressure medium and means actuated by the pressure medium released by said valve for effecting the said automatic shifting of said gate.

4. In combination, a centrifugal, a wash fluid valve, and control means vvfor automatically opening said wash fluid valve, said control means including a time controlled valve adapted when open to release a pressure medium,and means actuated by the pressure medium released by said time controlled valve for effecting the opening of said wash fluid valve. i

5. lln combination, a centrifugal, a wash duid valve, means for automatically opening said wash fluid valve,.said means including a `time controlled valve adapted when open to release a pressure medium, and mechanism actuated by the pressure medium released by said'time controlled valve for effecting said automatic opening of said wash duid valve; and means for automatically stopping said centrifugal, the last said means including a time controlled valve adapted when open to release a pressure medium, and mechanism actuated by the pressure mediumreleased by the last said time controlled valve for effecting said automatic stopping of the said centrifugal.

6. lncombination, a centrifugal, a. wash fluid valve, means for automatically opening said Wash Huid valve, said means including a valve adapted when open to release a pres` sure medium, means for automatically opening the last said valve, and mechanism actuated by the pressure medium releasedby the last said valve for effecting thesaid automatic opening of said wash fluid valve; and means for automatically stopping said centrifugal, the last said means including a valve adapted when open to release a pressure medium, means for automatically opening the last said valve, and mechanism actuated by the pressure medium released by the last said valve for effecting said automatic stopping of said centrifugal.

7. In combination, a centrifugal, a curb-v ing, two troughs, a movable gate adapted to direct liquor from said curbing to either of said troughs, and means for automatically shifting said gate from one to the other of said troughs, the last said means including an automatically actuated valve having a valve body with an inletand outlet opening, anda movable valve stem, said stem having two valve faces and said valve body having two valve seats, the distance between said seats and faces being such as to permit said valve stem to have a limited movement in said valve body.

8. In combination, a centrifugal, a wash fluid valve, and automatic control'means for automatically openingsaid wash Huid valve, the last said means including a valve having Cil a valve body with an inlet and outlet opening, and a movable valve stem, said stem having two valve faces and said valve body having two valve seats, the distance between said seats and faces being such as to permit said valve stem to have limited movement in said valve body.

9. In combination, a centrifugal, means for starting said centrifugal, and automatic control means for automatically stopping said centrifugal, the last said means including a valve having a valve body with an inlet and outlet opening, and also a movable stem, said stem havin-g two valve faces and said valve body having two valve seats, the distance between said seats and faces being such as to permit said valve stem to have a limited movement in said valve body.

10. ln combination, a centrifugal, a wash fluid valve, means for automatically opening said wash fluid valve, the last said means including an automatically actuated valve havmg a valve body with an inlet and outlet opening, and a movable stem, said stem having two valve faces aud said valve body having two valve seats, the distance between said seats and faces being such as to permit said stem to have .limited movement in said valve body; and means for automatically stopping said centrifugal, the last said means including an automatically actuated valve having a valve body with an inlet and outlet opening, and also a movable stem, said stem having two valve faces and said valve body havmg two valve seats, the distance between said seats and faces being such as to permit said valve stem to have a limited movement in said valve body.

11. In combination a centrifugal, means for starting and stopping said centrifugal, a cylinder and piston cooperating with the last said means, connections including a time controlled valve for supplying a pressure medium to said cylinder to stop the centrifugal after a predetermined period of time.

1Q.. 'In combination a centrifugal, a curbing, two troughs, al movable gate adapted to direct liquor from said curbing to either of said troughs, a cylinder and piston cooperating with said gate, connections including a time controlled valve for supplying apressure medium to said cylinder to shift said gate from the one trough to the other after a predetermined period of time.

13. ln combination a centrifugal washing means including a wash fluid valve for Washing the material in the centrifugal, a cylinder and piston cooperating with said washing means, connections including a time controlled valve for supplying a pressure medium to said cylinder to put said washing means in operation after a predetermined period of time.

14. 1n combination a centrifugal, driving means for driving the centrifugal, power control means for connecting and disconnecting said driving means with a power supply, a cylinder and piston cooperating with said power control means, a brake for said centrifugal, another cylinder and piston cooper'- ating with said brake, time controlled means including a time controlled valve and connections adapted to supply a pressure medium to the first said cylinder to disconnect said driving means from said power supply after a predetermined period of time, and a connection from the first saidcylinder to the second said cylinder to transmit the pressure medium to the second cylinder only after the first cylinder has been partially actuated by the pressure medium.

15. In combination a power driven ceutrifugal having a brake, time controlled means for automatically cutting oil the power and applying the brake after a predetermined period of time, said time controlled means including a cylinder, piston, time controlled valve and connections :for supplying a pressure medium to said cylinder after a predetermined period of time.

16. In combination a centrifugal, driving means for driving same, a power source, power control means for connect-ing and disconnecting said driving means wit'h said power source, means cooperating with said .power control means to disconnect the driving means from the power source when a pressure medium is supplied thereto, and a time controlled valve for supplying said pressure medium after the lapse of a predetermined period of time.

17. ln combination a centrifugal, a curbing, two troughs, a movable gate adapted to direct liquor from said curbing to either of said troughs, a cylinder and piston cooperat- Ling with said gate, a time controlled valve for supplying a pressure medium to said cylinder to shift said gate from one trough to the other after a predetermined period of time, said time controlled valve having a valve body with an inlet and outlet opening and also a movable stem, said stem having two valve faces, and said valve body having two valve seats between said faces, the distance between said seats being so related to the distance between said valve faces as to permit said stem to have a straight line movement limited by the butting of said valve faces against said valve seats.

18. In combination a centrifugal, washing means including a wash fluid valve for washing the material in said centrifugal, a cylinder and piston cooperating with said washing means for opening said wash fluid valve,

y and a'time controlled valve for supplying a pressure medium to said cylinder to actuatc same after a predetermined period of time, said time controlled valve having a valve body with an inlet and outlet opening and also a movable stem, saidl stem having two valve ltlli 

